On June 6, 2008, a BEECH A36 (registration N27199) was involved in an aviation accident near Pawtucket, RI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controllers failure to notify either pilot of the potential conflict. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
On June 6, 2008, a Beech A36 and a Piper PA-30 collided on the runway at North Central State Airport in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during instrument meteorological conditions. Both aircraft were substantially damaged, and the Piper pilot sustained minor injuries.
Accident Overview and Flight Details On June 6, 2008, at approximately 1745 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36, registration N27199, and a Piper PA-30, registration N7660Y, were substantially damaged in a runway collision at North Central State Airport (SFZ) in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The accident occurred under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The Beech was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan, departing SFZ for Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU) in New Jersey. The Piper was operating on an IFR flight plan from Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) in Massachusetts to SFZ. Both flights were conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The Beech pilot and passenger were not injured, while the Piper pilot sustained minor injuries. ## Sequence of Events According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control (ATC) transcripts, the Piper pilot checked in with Providence (PVD) Approach at 1718:56, reporting an altitude of 4,000 feet and requesting the GPS “Alpha” approach to SFZ. At 1732:59, PVD clearance delivery instructed the Beech pilot to hold for release. At 1735:44, PVD Approach transmitted the Piper’s approach clearance, which was acknowledged. One minute later, PVD Approach instructed the Piper pilot to report cancellation of IFR in the air or on the ground. At 1741:49, the Piper pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan and reported the airport in sight. PVD Approach acknowledged the cancellation and approved a frequency change. Approximately one minute after the Piper pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan, radar clearance delivery released the Beech for departure with a clearance void time of five minutes. The Beech pilot switched to the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and broadcast his position and intentions twice before beginning his takeoff roll. At the same time, the Piper landed on runway 15. ## Collision and Aftermath The Piper pilot reported that as he approached the intersection of runway 5/23 at approximately 40 knots, he heard a noise and saw the Beech on its takeoff roll on runway 5. The Beech pilot stated that as the aircraft approached its rotation speed of 75 knots, he and the passenger saw the Piper approaching from their left. The Beech pilot pulled back on the yoke in an attempt to fly over the Piper, but the aircraft collided. The collision occurred when the Beech was airborne about 6 feet above the ground. The Beech descended back to the ground, veered off the runway, and stopped in the grass. The Piper came to rest facing the opposite direction of travel, approximately 200 feet south of the runway 5 centerline and 20 feet off the pavement of runway 15. Both pilots reported that neither was aware of the other aircraft until seconds before the collision. ## Aircraft and Personnel Information The Beech A36, N27199, was a six-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane manufactured in 1986, powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-B engine. The Piper PA-30, N7660Y, was a four-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane manufactured in 1965, powered by two Lycoming IO-320-B1A engines. Neither aircraft was equipped with a traffic alerting system. The Beech pilot, age 54, held a private pilot certificate with instrument airplane ratings and reported 1,640 total flight hours. The Piper pilot, age 45, held a commercial pilot certificate with instrument airplane ratings and reported 3,215 total flight hours. ## Environmental and Operational Factors The 1735 recorded weather at SFZ reported calm winds, visibility of 10 miles, and an overcast cloud layer at 600 feet above ground level. The airport was not equipped with an air traffic control tower, and communications were accomplished using the CTAF. The departure area for Runway 5 and the touchdown zone for runway 15 were separated by trees that impeded the pilots' ability to see one another. The airspace in the proximity of SFZ was categorized as class G airspace, which extended to 700 feet above ground level, where it changed to class E airspace. ## Wreckage and Impact Information The Piper sustained damage to its nose section, and the upper crown portion of the cabin collapsed downward. A portion of the Beech's fuel bladder was attached to the left propeller of the Piper. The Beech's outboard left wing and aileron separated from the airplane, spilled fuel on the runway, and came to rest near the runway intersection. The left horizontal stabilizer also separated, and the right main gear collapsed. The runway bore witness marks consistent with tire skidding and a fuel fire.